Box opening and filling machine

ABSTRACT

The base of the machine consists of three modular casings ( 1, 2, 3 ) which are aligned with one another and fixed together and inside which the synchronized systems for the various work stations are arranged. The frames of the parallel and vertical-axis belts (C 1,  C 2 ) which are designed to convey the boxes (B) with a vertical arrangement are supported cantilever-fashion by the base casings, via upturned portal structures ( 6 ). The operating stations of the machine are supported by the frames of the belts or by the base casings, such that the box conveying line is free at the bottom so as to allow better cleaning and better inspection. The middle module ( 2 ) inserts the product (V) into the boxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a rectilinear box opening and filling machinesuitable for processing vertically arranged boxes and consequentlyusually called a vertical box opening and filling machine. Vertical boxopening and filling machines constructed in accordance with the knownart have the following technical problems: The boxes are generallyarranged in the feed magazine, stacked and oriented with their axisparallel to the longitudinal axis of the box-making machine. Thiscondition results in problems with regard to feeding the boxes into themagazine by means of a stacking conveyor positioned parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the box-making machine in order to limit the plandimensions of the machine, since the boxes themselves would have to reston this conveyor via their end flaps, which could result in theirbecoming disarranged or being damaged. The invention aims to overcomethis drawback by placing the boxes on the said stacking conveyor,edgeways, on their side walls, transversely and such that the boxesreach the vertical part of the magazine with their longitudinal axisparallel to that of the box-making machine, similar to what happens inhorizontal box-making machines. In order to achieve these advantages,special devices have been devised in order to extract the boxes from themagazine, arrange them vertically, unfold them from a rhombus shape andinsert them open and undamaged into the pairs of parallel and toothedbelts which convey the said boxes and position them in the succeedingwork stations of the machine.

A further problem which is encountered in vertical box opening andfilling machines of the known type consists in the fact that the frameson which the toothed and parallel box conveying belts travel and thevarious operating stations of the machine are supported by a basestructure which is also positioned partly below the said conveyingbelts, creating hygiene-related problems since it retains any dirt whichfalls from the operating line and restricts the possibility ofinspecting the said operating stations during the adjustment operationsand during ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of the machine. Theinvention therefore intends to solve this problem with the followingsolution. The machine is formed by a long base structure in the form ofa container inside which the drive systems for the various operatingstations are housed. The frames supporting the parallel and toothedbelts conveying the boxes themselves are mounted on one side of thisstructure cantilever-fashion and allow the possibility of performing theadjustments required by a change in shape or size of the boxes. Theoperating stations of the machine are mounted on these frames and/or onthe same side of the base which carries the said frames. In this way thecurrent practice of having a base underneath the box-conveying line isavoided, resulting in the advantages arising from this condition.

In box opening and filling machines of the known type there often existproblems of diversification of the central part assigned for insertionof the product into the boxes. This part of the machine must, ifnecessary, be prepared so as to introduce first of all, into the boxes,protective ribbed cardboard inserts and to introduce, again before orfollowing insertion of the product, leaflets, any dosing devices or anyother means for correct use of the product itself. These variousconditions at present require general re-designing of the machine, withthe consequent production costs arising therefrom. The invention aims toovercome this drawback with the following solution. The machine isdivided up lengthwise into three modules which are fixed one behindanother and interconnected with the main drive system. A first modulesupports the magazine and the means for feeding the boxes to theconveyor belts and supports the stations for closing the bottom flaps ofthe boxes. The last module supports the means for closing the top flapsof the boxes and unloading the boxes and supports the means for drivingthe conveying belts. The first and the third modules house, for example,the frames of the box conveying belts. The middle module supports thestation(s) for filling the boxes with one or more products. If thesestations are to be customized, it is sufficient to modify the centralmodule, while the end modules remain unchanged.

Operating stations for closing the end flaps of the boxes, which areparticularly suitable for installation on a modular sectional boxopening and filling machine which has a cantilever constructional designof the type mentioned above, have also been devised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristic features of the invention and the advantagesarising therefrom will emerge more clearly from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated, purely byway of a non-limiting example, in the figures of the accompanying sheetsof drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a side elevation view and top plan view of themachine, respectively;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show other details of the machine viewed respectively onthe cross-sections III—III and IV—IV of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show respectively side and front details of the box feedmagazine;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively side, front and perspective views ofthe station which extracts the boxes from the magazine, opens them andinserts them into the vertical-axis conveying belts;

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 are schematic top plan views of the means whichperform so-called unfolding from a rhombus shape or expansion of theboxes;

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show laterally the unit for expanding the boxesduring insertion of a box between the vertical-axis conveying belts andduring activation of the means which fold the rear and front end flapsof the box;

FIG. 16 is a side view of the means which fold the rear top flap of theboxes;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the means according to FIG. 16 and the meansfor folding the tongue and for folding the top closing flap of theboxes;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view with sectioned parts of the operatingmechanisms of the means according to FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 shows details viewed on the cross-sectional plane XIX—XIXaccording to FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the means according to FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a front view of the part of the means according to FIGS. 17and 20 which pre-folds the top closing tongue of the box;

FIGS. 22 and 23 shows details viewed on the sections XXII—XXII andXXIII—XXIII according to FIG. 17; and

FIG. 24 is a side view of the cam which actuates the means according toFIGS. 22 and 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

From FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 it can be seen that the machine according tothe invention comprises a base structure consisting of several casingswhich are aligned and fixed together one after the other, for example atleast three casings—indicated by 1, 2 and 3— which have, longitudinallyarranged inside them, the main drive shaft with the various branchedconnections for synchronized driving of the various operating stationsof the machine, which are located cantilever-fashion on one side of thesaid base structure, so that underneath them there are no obstaclespreventing cleaning of the machine and restricting the viewing of andaccess to the various work stations, for the adjustment operations andfor ordinary and extraordinary maintenance.

The casing 1 is equipped with the means necessary for feeding the boxes,opening and expanding them and for inserting them, open, in single fileand in a vertical arrangement, between the pairs of parallel and toothedconveying belts C1, C2 (see below). The said casing 1 is provided withmeans for folding and for closing progressively all the bottom flaps ofthe boxes. The casing 3 is provided with means for folding and closingprogressively all the top flaps of the boxes. These means are identicalto those associated with the casing 1, except for the fact that they areupside down. The middle box 2 is provided with means which insert, intothe boxes, the product together with any protective inserts and anyleaflets explaining the characteristics and intended uses of theproduct. In order to meet particular requirements relating to packagingof the products in the boxes, the middle part of the box-making machine,consisting of the casing 2, may be modified, while the end partstogether with the casings 1 and 3 will remain substantially unaltered.From FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 it can be seen that the casings 1, 2 and 3 arealigned along the rear and that the casing 1 has a depth less than thatof the casing 3. The middle casing 2 has a Z-shaped configuration of thefront side so as to match the different depths of the casings upstreamand downstream. The conveyor 4 is arranged in the front lateral recessof the casings 1 and 2, horizontally and parallel with respect to thebelts C1, C2, said conveyor removing the products, for example bottlesV, from one end of the machine and conveying them in single file intothe feed station 5 located on the casing 2, consisting for example of asmall vertical-axis rotating carousel provided with grippers or suctionmeans which remove the product from the said conveyor and insert into acorresponding box. We shall not here consider in detail the meansassociated with the middle casing 2, since they may of any known type.

The front side of the casings 1, 2 and 3 have, arranged on them, theparallel and adjustable pairs of toothed belts C1, C2 which are drivenat their ends around vertical-axis pulleys provided externally withfacing and known teeth which form the seatings of variable dimensionswhich receive in synchronism the boxes which the belts themselves thentransfer with an intermittent movement into the succeeding work stationsof the machine. The belts C1 and C2 are mounted on frames supportedcantilever-fashion by the casings 1 and 3, via adjustable upturnedportal structures 6, and are driven with the ends pulleys 7, 7′ by meansof partly telescopic shafts and bevel gear pair transmissions, notshown, the ends of which connect with the main machine shaft locatedlongitudinally inside the casings 1, 2 and 3 (see below). The belts C1located on the same side as the casings 1, 2 and 3 have a fixed positionwith respect to the said casings and their frame is supported by thefixed parts 6′ of the structures 6, while the belts C2 are designed suchthat their distance from the belts C1 can be adjusted when there is avariation in the shape or size of the boxes, and their frame issupported by the movable parts 6″ of the said upturned portal structures6 (FIGS. 3, 4). In addition to horizontal adjustment, means are alsoprovided for vertical adjustment of the pairs of belts C1, C2, so as toadapt the height of the box seatings to the dimensions of the said boxesto be processed. For this adjustment it is preferably envisaged that thebottom zero position be maintained. The constructional details of theconveying belts and the associated drive and horizontal and verticaladjustment means are not considered here since they may be deduced andeasily realized by a person skilled in the art, e.g. on the basis ofknown solutions.

It is understood that the present invention also extends to the variantin which the module 1 and the module 3 are situated respectively on theright and on the left of the module 2, with feeding of the boxes and theproduct from right to left. According to a further variant, the modules1, 2 and 3 may have the same depth and the conveyor 4 supplying theproduct V may be arranged with its end perpendicular with respect to themiddle module 2. Within the context of a machine of the aforementionedtype with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, with a cantilever constructionaldesign of the modular and sectional type, or within the context of amachine of known type, the invention aims to overcome the followingtechnical problem: devise a highly reliable solution to ensure that theboxes may be stacked in a feed magazine with their axes at right anglesto the longitudinal axis of the machine, similar to what occurs inhorizontal box-making machines, such that the boxes themselves may befed into the magazine by a belt conveyor arranged parallel to the saidlongitudinal axis of the machine and so that the boxes are able to restcorrectly on this conveyor on their side walls and arranged edgewise.These new means must be able to remove the boxes stacked with ahorizontal arrangement, orient them vertically, open and expand them,and insert them without relative movements between the conveying beltsC1 and C2. Means of this type which also fold the bottom rear flap ofthe box before a fixed folding device intervenes and folds the bottomfront flap onto it are now described. From FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, itcan be seen that the box feed magazine 8 comprises a vertical section 9in which the boxes are arranged horizontally and which, via an inclinedupper section 10, is connected to a horizontal section 11 providedlongitudinally with a motor-driven belt conveyor 12 on which theflattened boxes are placed with their side walls downmost, transverselyoriented, edgewise, with a suitable forwards inclination of the upperside and which, by means of a counterweight 13, are continuously pushedby the conveyor in the direction of the said inclined part and the saidlast vertical part of the magazine. Considering the direction of forwardmovement of the boxes, the front walls of the vertical section and ofthe inclined section of the magazine 8 are mounted on a support 14integral with the casing 1, while the rear walls of the said magazinesections and the frame of the conveyor 12 are mounted on a slide 15(FIG. 5) which travels on a horizontal and rectilinear guide 16 fixed toa structure 17 integral with the said casing 1 and which, by means of ascrew/female thread system 18, may be adjusted positionwise so as tovary the dimension 19 of the magazine and adapt it to the size or shapeof the boxes used. In FIG. 6 it can be seen that the slide 15 isintended to act as a guide for a right-angled slide 20 to which the sideof the magazine nearest the casing 1 is fixed and this slide isconnected to a screw/female thread adjusting device 21 which allows thewidth 22 of the magazine to be modified according to the variation inshape or size of the boxes.

In the example in question, as shown in FIG. 2, the boxes B used areprovided at the ends of the side walls with three consecutive flaps, twoof which A1-A2 and A1′-A2′ are the same and opposite and each close thebox partially, while the third flap A3, A3′ is such that it closes thebox completely and is provided at its end with a tongue L, L′ designedto be inserted into the box itself. For this composite configuration,the aforementioned third flap is referred to below as the closing flap.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 it can be seen that, laterally with respect to thevertical part 9 of the box magazine, on the side facing the casing 1there is provided a support structure 23 which is integral with thiscasing and which has, flanged to it, a horizontal sleeve 24 which isparallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine and inside which a bush25 is rotatably mounted, the internal surface of said bush being splinedand said bush having, sliding axially inside it, a splined shaft 26which has, fixed perpendicularly on one end, the arm 27 with the suctioncups 28 designed to pick up the box from the magazine 8 (see below). Oneend of the splined bush 25 has, integral with it, a perpendicular lever29 which is connected via the tie-rod 30 to a right-angled lever 31hinged at 32, parallel to the said shaft 26, on a support 33 fixedinside the casing 1. A descending tie-rod 34 is hinged to the lever 31and connected to a right-angled lever 35 which is pivotably mounted inthe middle on a fixed fulcrum 36 and with its own end roller 37co-operates with the double-acting profile of a cam 38 keyed to the mainshaft 39 of the machine, which is situated longitudinally inside theaforementioned casings 1, 2 and 3. From this mechanism, the arm 27receives the movement necessary for picking up with the suction cups 28the front side wall P1 of the bottom box of the magazine, as illustratedin FIGS. 7 and 8 in broken lines, in order to extract this box from themagazine and arrange it vertically. In order to reduce the travel of themeans intended for the subsequent insertion of the open box between thepairs of toothed belts C1, C2 and make the operation of these same meansindependent of that of the arm 27, it is envisaged that, in synchronismwith the ninety-degree oscillation necessary to extract the box from themagazine, the said arm 27 performs a horizontal translation movement inorder to move towards the belts C1, C2, as shown in FIG. 7 in brokenlines (initial position) and in continuous lines (final position). Thismovement is brought about by a flanged wheel 40 fixed onto the free endof the shaft 26 and co-operating with the end roller 41 of a lever 42fixed onto a vertical shaft 43 which is rotatably supported by brackets44 inside the casing 1 and which on the bottom end carries a lever 45which, together with the roller 46, follows the double-acting profile ofa cam 47 keyed to the aforementioned shaft 39.

In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, it can be seen that, underneath the support 23,there is provided an additional support 48 which is integral with thecasing 1 and on which a precision slide/guide unit 49, parallel to thesaid shaft 26, is mounted. The body of an angular drive transmission 50consisting of a bevel gear pair is fixed on the slide of this unit andthe same slide is connected by means of the end articulation 51 to alever 52 which enters into the casing 1 and which is fixed to a verticalshaft 53 supported rotatably by the support 54 and provided on the otherend of a lever 55 which, by means of its roller 56, follows thedouble-acting profile of a cam 57 keyed to the said drive shaft 39. Thevertical drive output shaft 58 of the angular transmission 50 has, keyedto it, the base of an L-shaped arm 59, the shank of which is verticaland carries at the top the suction cups 60 for gripping the side wall ofthe box following that retained by the suction cups 28 of the extractionunit already considered. The horizontal axis bevel pinion 61 of theangular transmission 50 is provided with an axial cavity which issplined and open towards the outside, for co-operation with a splinedshaft 62 (FIG. 7) which is supported rotatably at one end by the support48 and which on this end carries, fixed, a perpendicular lever 63 whichby means of the tie-rod 64 is connected to a lever 65 pivotably mountedon the shaft 36 and which with its end roller 66 follows thedouble-acting profile of a cam 67 keyed to the main shaft 39. The arm 59with the suction cups 60 receives from the cam 57 a horizontaltranslatory movement, while it receives from the cam 67 an oscillatingmovement of suitable amplitude on the vertical axis 58. At the start ofeach cycle, the arm 59 is oriented as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, but isdisplaced towards the belts C1, C2 so as not to interfere with the boxwhich, in synchronism, is removed from the magazine by the arm 27 and isdeposited by the latter vertically. When the arm 27 has extracted thebox B from the magazine, with gripping of the wall P1, after the saidarm has reached the end of its rotational downwards travel and has movedforwards, the extracted box B is in the condition according to FIG. 10,the retraction of the arm 59 into the rest position having occurred insynchronism. From FIG. 10 it can be seen that the vertical sidefollowing the walls P1 and P2 of the box is aligned with the verticalaxis of the shaft 58 which carries the arm 59. At this point the shaft58 causes rotation, in the anti-clockwise direction, of the arm 59which, with the suction cups 60 active, grips the wall P2 of the box andthen the said shaft 58 performs a reverse rotation of amplitude greaterthan 90°, for example of about 120-150°, as illustrated in FIG. 11, soas to relax the joining zones interconnecting the side walls of the saidbox, as usually occurs during the so-called process of expansion of thesaid boxes. In a synchronized sequence the arm 59 returns into the restposition as shown in FIG. 12, with the walls of the box arranged atninety degrees with respect to one another. The side wall P3 of the boxrests against an abutment 68 supported by an adjustable structure 69which is fixed to the body of the angular transmission 50 (FIG. 9). Onceopening of the box has occurred, the arm 27 performs a slightoscillation away from the box and then performs a translatory movementtowards the cycle start position as illustrated schematically in FIG.12, so as to be able to co-operate with the magazine 8 and remove fromthe latter the next box. The arm 59, in synchronism, moves forwardtowards the belts C1, C2, at a constant speed which is the same as thelinear speed of the said belts, so as to insert the box between thelatter without relative movements and release it only after the box hasbeen gripped precisely and securely by the means which follow (seebelow). Once insertion of the box between the belts C1, C2 has occurred,the suction cups 60 are deactivated and after the arm 27 has extractedanother box from the magazine, the arm 59 returns into the rest positionfor repetition of a new working cycle.

From FIGS. 8, 9 and 13 it can be seen that the arm 59 has, underneaththe suction cups 60, an inset step in which there is horizontally hingedat 70 a flap or hinged lug 71 which projects by a suitable amount atleast from the side of the said arm 59 which faces the casing 1 (FIG.8). Behind this projecting part of the hinged lug 71 there is arrangedthe rounded top end of a finger 172 directed downwards and joined at thebottom end to the end of a lever 72 oriented in the direction of feedingof the boxes and hinged at its front end on a shaft 73 at right anglesto the shaft 58 and supported by the body of the angular transmission50. The lever 72 carries laterally, opposite the finger 172, a roller 74which follows the grooved profile 75 of a linear cam fixed on the frame48 and parallel to the splined shaft 62 (FIG. 9). At the start of eachcycle (FIG. 13), the hinged lug 71 is oriented downwards. When the arm59 performs the movement for insertion of the box between the conveyingbelts C1, C2, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the finger 172 swings forwardsand raises the hinged lug 71 by an amount such that the latter raisesthrough ninety degrees the rear bottom flap A1 of the said box Binserted between the said belts. In a synchronized sequence the frontbottom flap A2 of the box inserted between the belts C1, C2 and stillretained by the arm 59 co-operates with a linear and fixed foldingdevice 76 (FIG. 15) which is located between the said belts and whichraises this flap and arranges it on top of the flap A1, supporting bothof them. After insertion of the box between the belts C1, C2 and foldingof the flaps A1, A2, while the box is continuing to be displaced by thesaid belts, the moving part which carries the arm 59, together with thesuction cups 60 deactivated in synchronism, stops and returns with areverse movement into the start of cycle position, with the hinged lug71 repositioning itself in the downwards direction since it has beenreleased by the finger 172.

With reference to FIGS. 17, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 the means which foldthe tongue and which fold the bottom closing flap A3 of the box are nowdescribed. Since these means are identical to those which act on thecorresponding top flap A3′ of the box, for the sake of simplicity theselatter means will be described. In FIG. 21 it can be seen that, duringthe intermittent feeding movement of the belts C1, C2, the boxes arrivecyclically with the closing flap A3′ correctly oriented by prior guidingmeans, not shown, in front of the edge of a hooked structure 77. Theheightwise position of this structure must be able to be adjusted sothat its edge touches exactly the joining line 78 which connects theflap A3′ to the corresponding tongue L′ (see also FIG. 7) designed to beinserted into the box (see below). For this purpose, the said structure77 is fixed to a slide 79 which travels on a vertical guide 80 which isfixed for example to the support frame of the belts C2 and the positionof which may adjusted heightwise by means of the screw/female threadunit 81. The guide 80 supports rotatably and parallel thereto, partly bymeans of the projection 83, a splined shaft 82 which is connected to anangular transmission 84, the horizontal shaft of which enters the nearbybase casing of the machine where it has, keyed on it, a gear wheel 85which meshes with a gear wheel 86 of larger diameter provided in aneccentric position with a roller 87 which follows the double-actingprofile of a cam 88 keyed to the drive shaft 39, so that the saidsplined shaft is made to perform an oscillating movement in synchronismwith the various operating parts of the machine. The slide 79 has aninclined channel inside which slides a rack 89 which is parallel to thebody of the structure 77 and which with its inclined teeth meshes withthe splined shaft 82, so as to receive from the latter reciprocatingrectilinear movement. The rack 89 has, fixed transversely at the end andin the middle, a round-sectioned cross-piece 90 which can be operated soas to be inserted into the hook of the structure 77, as illustrated inFIG. 20, in order to fold the tongue L′ through about 90° with respectto the closing flap A3′, after which the said cross-piece returns intothe rest position.

During the subsequent advancing movement by one step, the box B ispositioned laterally with respect to a first comb 91 (FIGS. 17 and 23)which originally is oriented upwards and which is able to oscillateabout an axis 92 parallel to the conveying section of the belts C1, C2and supported by the frame which guides the belts C2 and which thereforeis located laterally with respect to the flap A3′. The teeth of the comb91 receive, arranged between them so as to form an angle of less than90° and so as to project towards the box, the teeth of a second comb 93which is supported with the possibility of adjustment of the distancefrom the axis 92, if the shape or size of the boxes varies, by astructure 94 which is able to oscillate about an axis 95 which isaligned with and situated after that 92 mentioned above. The combs 91and 93 swing initially downwards substantially at the same time and thecomb 93 stops when it reaches a vertical position as indicated by thebroken line in FIG. 23, with its ends inserted slightly inside the box.In order to ensure this condition, the teeth of the comb 93 terminate ina bottom tip which is profiled at a receiving angle towards the outsideof the box. When the comb 93 reaches the said vertical position, itstops and the downward movement of the comb 91 continues, pushing theflap A3′ into the closed position and forcing the tongue L′ to travelalong the teeth of the comb 93 and enter firmly into the box, asindicated by the broken line and dot-dash line in FIG. 23. The combs 91and 93 then return into the rest position in order to repeat the workcycle. From FIGS. 20, 22 and 23 it can be seen that, laterally withrespect to the hinging points 92 and 95 of the combs, on the same framewhich supports these hinging points there is mounted, parallel to thelatter, a precision slide/guide unit 96 and the slide of this unit isconnected to a horizontal rack 97 which meshes with a pinion 98 (FIG.17) keyed to the splined shaft 82, so as to receive from the latter arectilinear reciprocating movement in synchronism with the variousoperating components of the machine. The same slide of the unit 96(FIGS. 22, 23) has, fixed to it, a cam 99 which has a working part withan arched profile, in the form of a segment of a circle, with theconcavity directed towards the hinging axes 92, 95 of the combs and withthe centre of curvature located on these same hinging axes. This camsegment is provided with grooves 100 and 101 with a Z-shapedconfiguration as can be seen in FIG. 24, the profile of which isfollowed by respective rollers 102 and 103 mounted on pins which areradially fixed on the hinging axes 95 and 92 of the combs themselveswhich thus obtain the necessary oscillating movement from thereciprocating rectilinear movement of the rack 97 and parts associatedwith it.

From FIG. 20 it can be seen that the adjustable structure 94 whichsupports the comb 93 has, mounted on it, behind this comb, a pressingdevice 104 which has the function of closing completely the flap A3′,with complete insertion of the tongue L′ into the box, since thisoperation cannot be satisfactorily performed by the aforementionedcombs.

With means similar to those described, but inverted and mounted on thesupport frame of the belts C1 or on the nearby base casing 1, the flapA3-L closing the bottom of the boxes inserted between the belts C1, C2is folded. During the folding of the bottom closing flap A3-L, thecorresponding top closing flap A3′-L′ of each box is moving with itsinside face close to the joining line with the box itself, on fixedguiding and opposing means—schematically indicated by 300 in FIG.1—which prevent unwanted movements of the boxes.

From FIGS. 1 and 4 it can be seen that, before reaching the middle partof the machine, for co-operation with the filling station 5, the boxesclosed at the bottom rest on a horizontal conveyor 200 which is drivenat the same speed as the belts C1, C2 and which supports the boxesthemselves until they are is unloaded from the machine. At the exitpoint of the boxes from the filling station, in the end part of thecasing 2 or in the initial part of the casing 3 means are provided tofold in succession the rear top flap A1′, the front top flat A2′ andfinally the already considered closing flap A3′-L′. With reference toFIGS. 16-18 it can be seen that, laterally with respect to the path ofthe boxes, on the opposite side to the closing flap A3′, a blade orhinged lug 105 fixed on a horizontal shaft 106 and perpendicular to thepath of the boxes is provided on the frame which supports the conveyingbelts C1. When the belts C1 and C2 are active, the hinged lug 105 isretracted laterally with respect to the path of the boxes and isoriented horizontally in the opposite direction to the direction offeeding of the said boxes, as shown in FIG. 16 by broken lines. When thebelts C1, C2 have been stopped, the shaft 106 extends towards the boxes,positions the hinged lug 105 behind the flap A1′ of the nearby box andthen rotates through 180° in a clockwise direction when viewing FIG. 16,so as to fold the said flap. The hinged lug remains temporarily activewhen the belts C1, C2 start the next movement of one step, so as to keepthe flap A1′ low and allow folding, onto the latter, of the front flapA2′ by a fixed folding device 107 (FIG. 16), following which the saidhinged lug performs in synchronism the return movements into the restcondition so as not to interfere with the following box which is movingforwards. From FIG. 18 it can be seen that the shaft 106 consists of asplined shaft which engages with an internally splined bush 108rotatably supported in the fixed container 109 and this bush isexternally toothed and meshes tangentially with a rack 110 hinged to alever 111 keyed to the end of a first vertical and descending shaft 112which, at its bottom end, enters into a housing 113 which is fixed tothe casing 3 and which rotatably supports the said shaft and which issituated substantially at the height of the drive shaft 39 (FIGS. 17,19). The housing 113 has, rotatably mounted inside it, the end of ahorizontal shaft 114 which is perpendicular to the shaft 39 and isconnected to it by means of a bevel gear pair 115. The shaft 114 isprovided with helical grooves on the end located inside the housing 113and a roller 117 fixed eccentrically on the bottom end of the shaft 112engages in one of these grooves 116, so as to transmit to the said shaftthe oscillating movement necessary for operation of the rack 110 and soas to transmit to the hinged lug 105 the necessary swinging movement.The axial displacement of the hinged lug 105, on the other hand, isobtained by means of a flanged wheel 118 which is fixed onto the shaft106 and is engaged by the end roller of a lever 119 keyed to the end ofa vertical descending shaft 120 (FIG. 18) which enters the container 113(FIG. 19) and which is also provided with an eccentric roller fortracing the profile of a helical groove on the shaft 114, similar tothat 116 already mentioned for the shaft 112.

What is claimed is:
 1. (1+3) A rectilinear box opening and fillingmachine for processing vertically arranged boxes, comprising: a modularbase having a plurality of operating stations; a main shaftlongitudinally arranged inside of said modular base by which saidoperating stations operate; a plurality of upturned portal stationscantilevered to one side of said modular base; a vertical belt conveyorincluding a) proximal and distal pairs of parallel, vertical-axis,toothed belts which convey a vertically arranged box therebetween, andb) proximal and distal horizontal belt-support frames which are attachedto said plurality of portal stations and which respectively support saidproximal and distal pairs of toothed belts; wherein at least one of saidoperating stations is supported by one of said belt-support frames suchthat underneath of all of said belt-support frames an unoccupied spaceis provided which allows for a fast removal of dirt which falls fromabove said belt-support frames and which allows accessibility to said atleast one of said operating stations, said toothed belts, and saidbelt-support frames; wherein each said upturned portal structureincludes a) a fixed part fixed to the one side of the modular base, saidfixed part supporting said proximal belt-support frame and including aguide member, b) a horizontally movable part having a guided portionmovably received in said guide member, said movable part supporting saiddistal belt-support frame, and c) a distal frame adjusting device whichadjusts an extent of said guided portion received in said guide memberand hence a position of said distal belt-support frame from saidproximal belt-support frame so that boxes of different sizes aresuitably received between said proximal and distal pairs of toothedbelts; and wherein said belt conveyor includes, supported on one of saidupturned portals located at an end part of said belt conveyor, a) aproximal drive shaft connected to said main shaft and a distal driveshaft partly telescopic with said proximal drive shaft, b) proximal anddistal transmission bevel gear pairs connected respectively to saidproximal and distal drive shafts, and c) proximal and distal end pulleysfor said proximal and distal pairs of toothed belts connectedrespectively to said proximal and distal gear pairs such that saidproximal and distal pairs of toothed belts are driven with acomplementary reverse rotation and a same speed.
 2. (2) A rectilinearbox opening and filling machine as claimed in claim 1: wherein saidmodular base has first, second and third module casings which arearranged one after another and fixed together; wherein said first casingincludes a) a magazine which feeds the boxes individually, and b) afirst closing means for receiving each box from said magazine and forclosing bottom flaps of each box; wherein said second casing includes aninsertion means for inserting a product into an open top of each box;and wherein said third casing includes a second closing means forclosing top flaps of each box.
 3. (4) A rectilinear box opening andfilling machine as claimed in claim 2: wherein said first, second andthird casings have a rear and a depth, a) said rears of said first,second and third casing being aligned, b) said depth of said firstcasing is less than the depth of said third casing, c) said depth ofsaid has a first portion which matches the depth of said first casingand together form an initial inset section of said one side of saidmodular base, and a second portion which matches the depth of said thirdcasing; further including a product conveyor conveying product to bepackaged in said boxes to said second casing, said product conveyor a)being located in the initial inset section, b) being parallel to saidbelt conveyor, c) being supported b said first and second casings, andd) being driven by said main shaft.
 4. (19) A rectilinear box openingand filling machine as claimed in claim 2: wherein said box conveyorfurther includes an intermediate belt on which a closed bottom of eachbox rests, said intermediate belt a) being disposed below and betweensaid proximal and distal toothed belts, b) beginning after said firstclosing means and extending past said second closing means, c) travelingat a same speed and direction as said toothed belts.
 5. (1+2+6) Arectilinear box opening and filling machine for processing verticallyarranged boxes, comprising: a modular base having a plurality ofoperating stations; a main shaft longitudinally arranged inside of saidmodular base by which said operating stations operate; a plurality ofupturned portal stations cantilevered to one side of said modular base,said one side defining proximal and distal relationships; a verticalbelt conveyor including a) proximal and distal pairs of parallel,vertical-axis, toothed belts which convey a vertically arranged boxtherebetween, and b) proximal and distal horizontal belt-support frameswhich are attached to said plurality of portal stations and whichrespectively support said proximal and distal pairs of toothed belts;wherein at least one of said operating stations is supported by one ofsaid belt-support frames such that underneath of all of saidbelt-support frames an unoccupied space is provided which allows for afast removal of dirt which falls from above said belt-support frames andwhich allows accessibility to said at least one of said operatingstations, said toothed belts, and said belt-support frames; wherein saidmodular base has first, second and third module casings which arearranged one after another and fixed together; wherein said first casingincludes a) a magazine which feeds the boxes individually, and b) afirst closing means and for closing bottom flaps of each box receivedfrom said magazine; wherein said second casing includes an insertionmeans for inserting a product into an open top of each box; wherein saidthird casing includes a second closing means for closing top flaps ofeach box; a horizontal belt conveyor on which flattened boxestransversely rest on sides walls and which flattened boxes are inclinedwith an upper part forward, said horizontal belt conveyor conveying theboxes towards said magazine and a) being driven by said main shaft, b)being located laterally with respect to said first casing, c) beinglocated above and parallel to an initial part of said vertical beltconveyor, d) having movable proximal and distal retaining lateral sideshoulders between which the flattened boxes are constrained, and e)including a ballast weight which pushes the flattened boxes forwardthrough said lateral side shoulders and towards said magazine; whereinsaid magazine includes a) an inclined section receiving inclined boxesfrom an end of said horizontal belt conveyor and turning the boxeshorizontally, b) a vertical section leading from said inclined sectionto a magazine bottom, said vertical section receiving the horizontalboxes from said inclined section and presenting a lowermost horizontalbox at the magazine bottom with boxes thereabove arranged flat on top ofone another and with longitudinal axes thereof oriented at right anglesto a direction of travel of said vertical box conveyor; c) wherein saidinclined section and said vertical section include a movable rearmagazine wall adjacent said horizontal belt conveyor and a stationaryfront wall opposite thereto, and d) wherein said inclined section andsaid vertical section include a movable proximal side magazine walladjacent said first casing and a stationary distal side wall oppositethereto; and a mounting structure for said magazine and said movablelateral side shoulders, said mounting structure including a) a bracketcantilevered to said first casing which supports said stationary frontwall and said stationary distal side wall of said magazine, b) a firstmovable slide which is parallel to said horizontal belt conveyor andwhich supports said retaining side shoulders of said horizontal beltconveyor and said movable magazine walls of said magazine, c) a guidecantilevered to said first casing on which said movable slide is mountedfor movement, d) a first adjusting means for adjusting a distance ofsaid rear magazine wall and of said lateral side shoulders from saidfront wall of said magazine such that flattened boxes of differentlongitudinal sizes are accommodated therebetween, e) a second movableslide which is mounted to said first movable slide for movement at rightangles thereto and to which said movable proximal side magazine wall andsaid proximal lateral side shoulder are mounted, and f) a secondadjustment means for adjusting a distance of said proximal side magazinewall and said proximal lateral side shoulder relative to said distalside magazine wall and said distal lateral side shoulder such thatflattened boxes of different lateral sizes are accommodatedtherebetween.
 6. (7) A rectilinear box opening and filling machine asclaimed in claim 5, further including: an extraction mechanism whichextracts the lowermost box from said magazine, said extraction mechanismincluding a) a horizontal shaft extending parallel to the longitudinalaxis of said main shaft and mounted to said first casing for 90°rotational movement between an extraction position and a deliveryposition, b) a first rotation means driven by said main shaft for movingsaid horizontal shaft between said extraction position and said deliveryposition, and c) an extraction arm located laterally with respect tosaid vertical section of said magazine toward said first casing, saidextraction arm having a proximal end mounted to said horizontal shaftand a distal end including suction cups such that (i) when saidhorizontal shaft is rotated to the extraction position said suction cupsengage a first side wall of the lowermost box horizontally located insaid magazine and (ii) when said horizontal shaft is rotated to thedelivery position the lowermost box is extracted from said magazine andsaid first side wall is located in a vertical plane and distal from asecond side wall of the box adjacent thereto and the first side wall ispositioned at a height of said proximal pairs of toothed belts forreception thereby; an opening mechanism which opens the flattened boxheld by said extraction arm when said horizontal shaft is in thedelivery position, said opening mechanism including a) an opening armmounted at a first end for rotation about a vertical axis aligned with ajoining line of the first and second side walls of the box, said openingarm having a second end provided with suction cups at a level of thesecond side wall, b) a second rotation means driven by said main shaftfor rotating said opening arm between a closed position where saidsuction cups of said opening arm engage the second side of the flattenedbox held by said extraction arm in the delivery position and an openedposition where the second side wall is moved away from the first sidewall about the joining line thereof to open the box, and c) atranslation means mounted to said first casing for moving, when theextraction arm is moved away from the delivery position, the first endof the opening arm and hence the opened box engaged by said opening armtowards and into said horizontal belt conveyor.
 7. (8) A rectilinear boxopening and filling machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidextraction mechanism further includes a second translation means formoving said horizontal shaft synchronously with the moving thereof bysaid first rotation means between (i) a retracted position when saidhorizontal shaft is in the extraction position and (ii) an extendedposition horizontally closer to said vertical belt conveyor and inposition for the flattened box to be engaged by said opening arm whensaid horizontal shaft is in the delivery position, such that once theflattened box is opened by said opening mechanism said secondtranslation means and said first rotation means are actuated to movesaid extraction arm back to the extraction position independent of thefirst-mentioned translation means.
 8. (9) A rectilinear box opening andfilling machine as claimed in claim 7: wherein said extraction arm fixedto a first end of said horizontal shaft; wherein said horizontal shaftis splined; wherein said first rotation means includes a) a splined bushinside of which said splined horizontal shaft axially slides, b) a fixedsleeve inside of which said splined bush is rotatably supported, c) afirst lever provided integrally with a second end of said splined shaft,d) a tie-rod having a first end connected to said first lever and asecond end, e) a linkage mechanism located in said first casing andhaving a first end connected to said second end of said tie-rod and asecond end, and f) a cam keyed to said main shaft and connected to saidsecond end of said linkage mechanism, whereby the rotational movement isprovided to said horizontal shaft; and wherein said second translationmeans includes a) a flanged wheel integrally connected to a second endof said horizontal splined shaft and having a raceway, b) a second leverhaving an end roller received in said raceway of said flanged wheel andan opposite end, c) a vertical shaft rotatably located in said firstcasing having a first end to which said opposite end of said secondlever is connected and a second end, d) a third lever having a first endconnected to said second end of said vertical shaft and a second endhaving a cam roller, and e) a cam keyed to said main shaft which saidcam roller of said third lever follows.
 9. (10) A rectilinear boxopening and filling machine as claimed in claim 6: wherein said openingarm is L-shaped; wherein said translation means includes a) a bevel gearpair transmission having a vertical output shaft to which said first endof said opening arm is connected and a housing, b) a slide/guide unithaving (i) a horizontal slide to which said housing of said bevel gearpair transmission is fixed and which is oriented parallel to the path ofsaid toothed belts and (ii) a guide, c) a support structure fixed tosaid first casing and to which said slide/guide unit is fixed, d) avertical-axis hinged articulation to which an end of said guide isconnected, e) a first lever to which said hinged articulation isconnected and which enters said first casing, f) a rotating verticalshaft located in said first casing and to which said first lever isconnected, g) a second lever to which said rotating vertical shaft isconnected and having an end roller, and h) a first cam keyed to saidmain shaft in which said end roller of said second lever is receivedsuch that said slide is moved horizontally and hence said opening arm ismoved towards and away from said horizontal belt conveyor; and whereinsaid second rotation means includes a) a horizontal-axis bevel pinion insaid bevel gear pair transmission which is axially hollow, splined andopen towards an outside, b) a horizontal and splined shaft which isengaged in said horizontal-axis bevel pinion and which is supported atone end by said support structure, c) a third lever fixedperpendicularly to said splined shaft, d) a tie-rod fixed to said thirdlever, e) a fourth lever which is connected to said tie-rod, which islocated inside of said first casing, and which has a roller, and f) asecond cam keyed to said main shaft in which said end roller of saidfourth lever is received such that said opening arm is rotated.
 10. (11)A rectilinear box opening and filling machine as claimed in claim 9:wherein said translation means includes a support piece adjustablymounted to said slide to cooperate with an third side wall opposite tothe first side wall of an opened box such that during movement of saidopening arm towards said horizontal belt conveyor the box is supportedin a squared-up configuration.
 11. (12) A rectilinear box opening andfilling machine as claimed in claim 10: wherein said first closing meansincludes a) an inset step below said suction cups of said opening arm,b) a lug hinged to said opening arm at said inset step for rotationabout a horizontal axis, c) a finger having a rounded end which normallysupports said lug such that said lug is in a vertical position orienteddownwardly but projecting laterally somewhat away from said firstcasing, d) a fifth lever to which a bottom end of said finger isintegral, said lever being hinged to said housing of said bevel gearpair transmission with a horizontal articulation at right angles to amoving axis of said translation means, said fifth lever also including aroller, e) a linear and fixed cam which is engaged by said roller ofsaid fifth lever such that when said opening arm moves the opened boxtowards said horizontal belt conveyor said finger swings away from firstcasing causing said lug to rise and to move a bottom rear flap of theopened box to a closed position; and wherein said first closing meansfurther includes a) a fixed folding device which raises a bottom frontflap of the opened box to a closed position in engagement with theclosed bottom front flap so that said opening arm then releases theopened box.
 12. (20) A rectilinear box opening and filling machine asclaimed in claim 11: wherein said second closing means includes a) ahinged lug at one of an end of said second casing or a beginning of saidthird casing, b) a second horizontal shaft which extends transversely tothe path of the boxes and which is connected to said proximal beltsupport frame, said second horizontal shaft having one end to which saidhinged lug is fixed, c) a displacement means operatively connected tosaid main shaft for moving said second horizontal shaft (i) axially in areciprocating manner between a retracted position where said secondhorizontal shaft does not interfere with the movement of the boxes and,after a box has passed thereby and stopped, an extended position behindthe stopped box, and (ii) rotationally between an open position beneaththe rear top flap of the stopped box and a folded position where therear top flap is folded closed onto the box opening, the closed positionbeing maintained as the box is subsequently moved forward to hold therear top flat in the folded closed position; and d) a fixed foldingmember which interferes with front top flap as the stopped box issubsequently moved to fold the front top flap on top of the rear topflap which is held by said displacement means.
 13. (21) A rectilinearbox opening and filling machine as claimed in claim 12: wherein saidsecond closing means further includes a) a small splined shaft formingsaid second horizontal shaft, b) a splined bush which is engaged by saidsmall splined shaft and which is externally toothed, c) a second supportcontainer which rotatably supports said splined bush, d) a rack whichtangentially meshes with said splined bush, e) a sixth lever to whichsaid rack is connected, f) a first vertical descending shaft having atop end to which said sixth lever is keyed, g) a flanged wheel providedon said small splined shaft, h) a seventh lever having an end rollerwhich engages said flanged wheel, i) a second vertical descending shafthaving a top end to which said seventh lever is keyed, j) a fixedhousing in which bottom ends of said first and second verticaldescending shafts are rotatably supported, k) first and second eccentricrollers in said fixed housing attached respectively to said first andsecond descending shafts, l) a third horizontal shaft which extends fromsaid fixed housing into said third casing having first and secondhelical profile cams which are respectively engaged by said first andsecond eccentric rollers, and m) a bevel gear pair operativelyconnecting said main shaft to said third horizontal shaft.
 14. (1+2+13)A rectilinear box opening and filling machine for processing verticallyarranged boxes, comprising: a modular base having a plurality ofoperating stations; a main shaft longitudinally arranged inside of saidmodular base by which said operating stations operate; a plurality ofupturned portal stations cantilevered to one side of said modular base,said one side defining proximal and distal relationships; a verticalbelt conveyor including a) proximal and distal pairs of parallel,vertical-axis, toothed belts which convey a vertically arranged boxtherebetween, and b) proximal and distal horizontal belt-support frameswhich are attached to said plurality of portal stations and whichrespectively support said proximal and distal pairs of toothed belts;wherein at least one of said operating stations is supported by one ofsaid belt-support frames such that underneath of all of saidbelt-support frames an unoccupied space is provided which allows for afast removal of dirt which falls from above said belt-support frames andwhich allows accessibility to said at least one of said operatingstations, said toothed belts, and said belt-support frames; wherein saidmodular base has first, second and third module casings which arearranged one after another and fixed together; wherein said first casingincludes a) a magazine which feeds the boxes individually, and b) afirst closing means and for closing bottom flaps of each box receivedfrom said magazine; wherein said second casing includes an insertionmeans for inserting a product into an open top of each box; wherein saidthird casing includes a second closing means for closing top flaps ofeach box; wherein said first and second closing means are each include arespective folding means for folding an outermost closing flat andattached end tongue, each said folding means including a) an adjustableend means for folding the end tongue by more than 90° in a directiontowards the box, and b) an adjustable comb means for folding theoutermost closing flap into a closed position while guiding theassociated end tongue into the box.
 15. (14) A rectilinear box openingand filling machine as claimed in claim 14: wherein each said adjustableend means includes a) a hook-shaped member having a working hook endpositioned to receive the end tongue such that a hook edge of said hookend is located in contact with and parallel to a joining line of theoutermost closing flap and associated end tongue, b) a slide to whichsaid hook-shaped member is fixed at an inclined angle to the box, c) afixed guide extending vertically on which said slide is adjustablypositioned to properly position said hook end for a predetermined sizeof box desired, d) a vertical and splined shaft rotatably supported bysaid fixed guide, e) bevel gear pair connected to a bottom of saidsplined shaft, f) a gear wheel located in an associated said casingwhich is connected to said bevel gear pair and having an eccentricroller, g) a cam keyed to said main shaft and having a profile in whichsaid eccentric roller is located such that an oscillating motion istransmitted to said splined shaft, h) an inclined-tooth rack having across-piece at a free end thereof, and i) a seat in said slide in whichsaid rack is (i) guided for movement and for engagement with saidsplined shaft such that said rack is moved in a reciprocatingrectilinearly movement by rotation of said splined shaft, (ii) orientedin a direction of the box, (iii) mounted parallel to a body of saidhook-shaped member, (iv) positioned with said cross-piece in position tofold the end tongue over said hook edge when said rack is movedrectilinearly.
 16. (15) A rectilinear box opening and filling machine asclaimed in claim 15: wherein each said adjustable comb means includes a)a first comb having first teeth which is (i) oriented upwards in a restposition, (ii) positioned laterally with respect to the associatedoutermost closing flap to be closed, and (iii) hinged on an axisparallel to a direction of travel of the boxes, b) a second comb havingtapered second teeth (i) arranged between said first teeth, (ii)oriented in the direction of the boxes, and (iii) forming with the firstteeth an internal angle of less than 90°, c) a comb structure (i) towhich said second teeth are attached which is adjustable along aposition parallel to said first teeth such that a position of saidsecond teeth from the hinge axis of said first comb is adjustableaccording to a predetermined size of the boxes, and (ii) which pivotsabout an axis situated after and aligned with the hinge axis of saidfirst comb, d) a pivoting means for pivoting said first and second combssimultaneously such that said first comb folds the outermost closingflap as said second comb holds the end tongue at the folded position andsuch that prior to entry of the end tongue in the box the tapered secondteeth of said second comb enter the box and stop at a substantiallyvertical orientation before the end tongue enters the box as said firstcomb continues to pivot and move the outermost closing flap to theclosed position as said second teeth guide the end tongue into the box.17. (16) A rectilinear box opening and filling machine as claimed inclaim 16: wherein each said adjustable comb means further includes a) afirst radial lug attached to a proximal end of said first comb adjacentto the hinge axis, b) a first roller mounted to said first radial lug,c) a first linear cam (i) having a first profile in which said firstroller moves and being positioned parallel to the direction of travel ofthe boxes, said first profile being a segment of a circle with a centerof curvature on the hinge axis, d) a second radial lug attached to saidcomb structure adjacent to the pivot axis, e) a second roller mounted tosaid second radial lug, f) a second linear cam (i) having a secondprofile in which said second roller moves and being positioned parallelto the direction of travel of the boxes, said second profile being asegment of a circle with a center of curvature on the pivot axis, g) aparallel slide mounted for reciprocating movement parallel to said hingeand pivot axes and on which said first and second cams are located, h) acomb rack attached to said parallel slide, and i) a comb pinion whichmeshes with said comb rack and which is keyed to said splined shaft. 18.(17) A rectilinear box opening and filling machine as claimed in claim16: wherein each said adjustable comb means further includes a pressingdevice adjustably mounted to said comb structure downstream of saidsecond teeth such that said pressing device presses the outermostclosing flap to push the end tongue completely into the associated box.19. (18) A rectilinear box opening and filling machine as claimed inclaim 16: wherein said first closing means further includes a guidingand opposing means which engages an inner side of the top outermostclosing flap for preventing the associated box from verticaldisplacement during folding of the bottom outermost closing flap.